Centenary of League celebrations

Australia will play New Zealand in a rugby league Test on May 9 next year at the Sydney Cricket Ground to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Test between the two countries in 1908.

The Test match is part of the centenary of Rugby League celebrations unveiled in Sydney today and both sides will mark the occasion by wearing 1968 replica jerseys. The Australian Rugby League has announced a range of other events to celebrate the 100 years since rugby league started, including naming the 100 greatest players to be announced at the Captains' Ball on April 16 next year.

The annual NSW City-Country match will be played at Wollongong on May 2 a week prior to the Centenary Test.

Next year's NRL season will kick off on March 14.

Foundation clubs the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney will meet in the first round while the West Tigers will play at the SCG and the Gold Coast will open their season at their new home ground, Skilled Park.

As part of year-long celebrations all 400 NRL players from the 16 teams will hold a fan day at Telstra Stadium on February 2 next year, the biggest public fan event in the game's history.